This job will mean something to the coach, instead of an NBA pipeline. He understands the history of the place.

Coach is here because HE WANTED IT!! That's enough for me!!! Keep the receipts Coach Pope!!!

It may be lean for a couple years but you will be proud. Mark Pope cares about this team, this school and the fans.... Losing a game hurts him as much as it hurts us.

I was skeptical about this hire, mainly due to Pope having zero tournament wins but after listening I think there is a lot of truth to Barnhart and Pope's words. UK basketball has not felt like UK basketball for at least the past five years (speaking as a lifelong fan and alum). We need to come together and bring this program back to he top. It's a feeling more than anything. BBN has power and strength that most other programs don't have! I am excited to see what Coach Pope can do with this program and BBN

I hope fans will give Mark a chance to prove that he is the coach we need, I can't wait to be excited about watching Kentucky basketball again.

Very happy with this hire. He wants to be at Kentucky, Kentucky didn't beg him to be here. He wants this. Major set on this fella for taking this position.

UNC, Duke, and UCONN all hired coaches no one knew a few years ago. BBN needs to fully support Mark and give him a chance. I would love for this to work out. This program needs someone who bleeds blue and Mark is that guy. BBN, let’s rise up and support the Pope era.

Haters will hate i really think this is gonna come together kentucky will finally be on the same page behind the scenes

Today has been a trip down memory lane for a guy like me who was reared on the Pitino-era Wildcats. So fun hearing the joy all the ex players are exhibiting and sharing. Even Rick Pitino is abolutely glowing and couldnt be more excited and happy for Mark.

I'm an Arkansas and Duke fan, but I love Mark Pope. Just a good natured guy that the fans and players can get behind. And he openly bled Kentucky blue while he was the head coach at BYU! As a fan, I dream of that in a Coach. I'd love to be laughing at Kentucky's hire, but this young guy will be dangerous for years to come. Great hire.

Pope bleeds blue we wanted someone loyal for a long time and we got it

And let’s not forget Coach Brooks for the women. He’s got great recruits and another great hire. Way to go Mitch!!!

Go big blue!!! Love the hire of mark pope.

Thank god we are getting back to Ky basketball! Full court press and defense. Popes in our family’s prayers.

Cal's opening speech to Arkansas had more bullshit in it than a livestock auction.

The People out there that don’t like Mark Pope or like the hire is not a true UK fan, it’s time for BBN to unite and pull for this guy and our team. He’ll give the guy a chance to put a team on the floor and you will see how he runs the offense and you will love it. Mark Pope loves UK. He will not run from the Media when he loses a game like Cal did’ and Pope can actually draw up a damn play during a Time Out “ unlike the last coach we had’ and he won’t say he tweaked the offense and say “ Are You Crazy like the last HC did. So give the man a chance

Welcome back Captain.....

One thing we know Mark will always put Kentucky first. There’s no doubt where his loyalty lies. He’ll give us the best he has because he knows what it means to wear this jersey

I’m ready to see the Mark Pope show begin. He’s a blue blood champion player now coaching at a blue blood program. I think he will surprise a lot of people. If he gets some of those untouchables to help it will be insane. To hell with the fair weather fans. Go Big Blue! BBN!!! #ThePope

Change of heart for me! I will support Coach Pope 100%. I was almost at the point of approval and the video from Pitino sealed the deal. I am super excited after hearing Barnhart speak on KSR. I will also reignite my support for our AD. I’ve posted some ugly comments during these tumultuous past weeks. So many emotions… Looking forward to Coach Pope leading BBN. It will be EPIC! See you on Sunday.🎉🏀😻

100% behind Mark Pope! LET GET AT IT! BBN!!

It's great to be a Kentucky basketball fan again. Like the Wicked Witch is gone, it's the Sleazeball is gone.

Great hire for the Cats!

It’s kinda funny but Mark Pope has brought Kentucky just as many championships as Cal without even coaching a single year yet lol

I am not rich but I will start next week with my paycheck on Thursday donating at least $50 a month to the basketball NIL. I WANT THIS PROGRAM TO SUCCEED AND HANG BANNERS. I lost all faith in Cal and wanted him gone several years ago and couldn't make myself give the program $ going forward since it was all about draft picks.

For any fans younger than their mid 40s who never witnessed UK basketball in person..Get ready for 5 out full court pressure and 3s at the upmost tempo..P.2.0..

If pitino says he’s the man and a great hire all I need to know.

We have Pope now. Be cool if he hired Jeff Shepherd as assistant, kept Reed and Perry shows up. Maybe Travis Ford come on as staff too

I'm super excited...... let's get behind this guy BBN

Love Coach Pope! Let's get it Rolling!

Love tha fact that he is so positive. Mark Pope positivity will babe intoxicating and that's a good thing I love it.

White smoke over Rupp Arena: new Pope in town😊

Mitch won this interview. Im fired up for mark pope

Well i wanted Pope last yr after UK lost to Kansas St. I didnt want Cal back. I like his style of ball. Hes Kentucky first he will win i believe. May take a yr or 2 build to get peices he needs. Full support from me Coach Pope!

Mitch is right about it it's about the name that's on the name on the front of the jersey not the player .GO BIG BLUE!!!!

The Pope is back! Lets go BBN, this mans team was fun to watch. He knows how to coach, he adapts, good hire.

Yesterday, I honestly wasn't on board, I was upset we went from Hurley, Drew, Donovan, to Coach Pope (only because of the experience, i was scared of this hire... But i always loved Mark and that champship team), after sleeping on it doing a little research, IM ALL IN! BBN this is what we've been missing and waiting for, a coach with a passion for the Xs/Os, the university, the fans, and most of all the name on the uniform, not just NBA draft picks/one and dones, that will now be backed by some of the best fans and biggest donors in the game! As a captain of the national champship team, I believe Pope will get #9 eventually with OUR HELP! His love and passion for the Kentucky brand are 2nd to none! Let's go get #9 with Coach Pope #BBN! GOOOOOOO CATS!

Can’t wait until next season!!

I loved Mark Pope as a player for Coach Pitino and he's a really genuinely good man, and he's done a more than admirable job as the head coach at BYU during his 5 seasons there. That being said, and I truly hope I end up being as wrong as wrong can be in expressing my view about what all transpired as a now 60 year old, born and raised all my life Kentucky Wildcat fan. Having played on a national championship team himself for Coach Pitino in 1996, nobody knows any better than Mark Pope himself that along with not only the X's and O's part of the job and the never ending, arduous recruiting process expected to be successful without excuse every year. There also lies behind the scenes for any head man at UK a non-stop daily grind of sports media from across the country, which is at times hostile to anyone coaching in Lexington that has to be negotiated and handled delicately with almost kid gloves to juggle in one hand, while agressively having to butt heads fearlessly with the millions of other fans from all over the country that make up the loyal fan base that is BBN, and it's thousands of other self-appointed & proclaimed armchair coaches that some schools just call boosters that he'll be expected to apize. It's on that score that my gut sadly tells me that Pope in this position is way over his head and well out of his league. But once he's hired I will support Coach Pope and pray everyday that what my gut says now ends up proven to be 110% dead wrong. In my opinion, the unmitigated SHIT SHOW that played out for the nation in real time over the past few days to my mind is in as equal of a portion Barnhart's fault just as much as Calipari's. Barnhart is afterall the damn AD for christ sakes, and during this pathetic downward slide with Calipari over the past 5 seasons, I don't think I once heard anything about Barnhart leaving his office to go down to have a real meaningful discussion with Cal to help relight a fire under his ass. No sir Mitch, you can take your holier than thou attitude and your bullshit righteous tone and stick them both up some other University's ass. Thinking back on it now, Barnhart and Cal's little public TV interview to prop each other up was nothing more than an attempt to shine up both of your tattered reputations like a new penny. Tell us again Cal about how the UK coaching job is any coach's dream job and the "bluest of blue bloods" and the "gold standard" of collegiate basketball coaching while you had one foot out the door already with your new red blazer on headed to Fayettville, Arkansas. The program this time has in large measure been torn apart and left in tatters by it's carpetbagging Athletic Director with an overblown notion of his own self worth to the University and a snake oil salesman former head coach that will likely in a decade or less time will be recopying his trying to look disappointed farewell statement for Lexington TV with a red jacket on instead for the Arkansas faithful. Barnhart and Calipari are just opposite sides of the same counterfiet coin that truly do deserve each other and an ESPY for the dynamic performance both have portraid in this shit show over the past week I hope I'm dead wrong about Mark Pope, and kudos to him for stepping forward as one of the second tier candidates that's willing to try and do the work now with all the negativty on social media speculating about why Barnhart couldn't close any deal to get Scott Drew or Dan Hurley or Billy Donovan or Jay Wright into the mantle as new head coach of the University of Kentucky. I will support Coach Pope heart and soul, and while we're cleaning house, how about we just go ahead and take someone like a still living basketball legend that played at UK like a Jack 'Goose' Givens and give him the job as the AD for Kentucky. Givens or someone like him who's played at UK would in my opinion be a more than welcome breath of fresh air as we watch the carpetbagger head off down the road to maybe try and catch up with his snake oil salesman buddy somewhere in Arkansas.

No more one year contracts, hallelujah!!!! Welcome back Mr Pope. BBN fully supports you💯👍

Great hire. if your a UK fan and your mad over the pick. just give it some time. you will be very happy.

Fuck yeah. I’m about to go in there and donate. I press no on every checkout cancer donation but for mark pope you got me

Coach Pope will bring success back to Kentucky!

Great hire. I love it. Way to go Mitch!

great interview, and he catches a lot of criticism, but I'm gonna be the first to say THANK YOU MITCH, AND GREAT JOB!

Great hire! He did great at BYU. Honestly I respect this. This year we have to come together as one BBN. It’s us over anybody

I didn't necessarily like how the path unfolded, but I love the eventual destination!

Great interview. I’m honestly excited. Thanks for the chance to hear it directly. Go Cats!!!

I hope he succeeds! Let’s go BBN!

Skeptical like most at first but bringing back a piece of when the Cats truly were dominant to get back to that level might be just what the doctor ordered!

I'm officially off the fire Mitch train. He said everything I needed to hear about moving forward, how important the fans and brand are, etc. Let's go!!!

It is Great that AD Mitch Barnhart joined Matt in a Discussion about Hiring Mark Pope as UKMBB Head Coach!!! #KSR #BBN #kyjoe

Mark Pope is a Great Hire that will Produce UKMBB Championships within 7 Yrs!!! #KSR #BBN #kyjoe

This UK/Arkansas game gonna be F. U. N.

50 seconds in and he answers "how did you get to Pope" with "there weren't many options"

I’m fired up!! Go Cats!!

Go Pope! Duke hired a alumni too. He is doing well.

I think he will do great things at UK.... he will teach and have great players

Got to step it up with NIL money Kentucky. $$$

Great coach Great person Great Resources Great Culture Great Future Ahead For 8 Time NATIONAL CHAMPION UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WILDCATS😊

I'm excited for Mark Pope! I loved watching the 96 team!!!!

Mark pope is going to be a great coach

Given the climate and circumstances, Mitch impressed me today

Are we sure Rupp Arena can fit all the fans showing support to “The Pope”

Good job a Mitch don’t get dragged by our former coach. Pope is gonna light this city on fire!!! Go Cats!!!!

We're having a Sunday homecoming/revival in Rupp. Love it! Just bring TC and the band along and we'll have us some fellowship in the bluegrass😅

I understand that a lot of fans are disappointed, but Pope is a great hire for the Cats. Fans, especially the younger generation of fans, are going to be pleasantly surprised. His style of basketball ball is high scoring, with a big dose of defensive tenacity. We will be tougher on the boards, and those young men that play for us will know that they have Kentucky on the front of the jersey. Now, his staff is where UK can get the best of the best and we will have one of the best recruiters as well as the best assistants. He was not the sexy hire, but a great hire with a superb upside.

Let’s Roll big Mark we’ve got your back!!!! Welcome home mark pope and family !!!! Go big Blue

Cal forgot who he worked for!! His own words were "My number one priority is these kids and their family." That's a quote. We want what's best for them as well, but you cannot forget who is making it all possible, and that's the university, not calipari!! What a jerk and fraud!! Good riddens!!! Our hope is in Pope!!!

Let’s go Coach Pope…full support from us fans…talked to roughly 20 fans today and all are excited and love the hire…if you aren’t on board with Mark Pope as our coach we will let you off at the next stop…✌️

I think it’s a great choice. He understands what the program means to us. He knows the game well. He bleeds blue and he’s full of passion for the game and UK. I look forward to watching him and supporting him. I think great things, deep tournament runs, and number 9 will be here in the next few seasons.

Beat Arkansas and win the SEC tournament and I’ll call it a successful first year.

Ik Mitch and his son or used to. They are nice people. I felt like this decision was dumb at first but I have a lot more respect for it now. Happy he came out and explained it. He’s always been a good guy forsure.

I can defintely get behind this guy. He bleeds blue just like we do. Mark Pope was tremendous as a player and now being at Kentucky with their resources will be elevated as a head coach. He will care when we lose. I am not saying Coach Cal didn't care about losing but it seemed like he cared more about fans and media accepting his excuses for HIS shortcomings instead of developing players. No one should ever say Cal sucked or anything. But look at the pros he coached... he didn't really have much of a hand in developing them. They took off once they got to the league. Look at Justin Edwards a preseason number 1 pick and under cal he was hardly playable. I am backing THE POPE. It would be epic if we could get a player with the name Bishop or Priest.... UK would be the Vatican of College Basketball. #wewillrise #welcomecoachpope #hogswillbeslop

Like everyone else I was like wtf and couldn’t believe it. After sleeping and researching Pope’s coaching, I’m all in. His offense is awesome, this years team would’ve averaged 110 pts with that system. He’s blue through and through. Let’s rally behind him. Go Cats!

I was so down on mitch but now im excited

Im effin excited let’s go!!! Also lol at Mitch not letting Matt cut him off mid sentence twice in a row

Given the pool seems like a better hire than ppl think. Took the big swings I’m not upset let’s see what he can do

Go Coach Pope and GO BIG BLUE!!!

I’m sold

Hell yeah!!

matt get on board .this is the right hire DON'Tbe negative

He has more class than Cal he didn’t bite on the negative stuff about the past.

Kentucky money byu scheme i like it!

Im not going to lie I've been against mitch for along time. But im definitely supporting this hire. Not just because he played for us but people need to watch his byu offense its ridiculous! Like this man is a genius his offence is absolutely nuts. I really think hes going to prove himself to BBN and i absolutely believe he loves Kentucky and this opportunity hes definitely going to give everything to succeed.

There's really no doubt that Kentucky is a difficult situation for some coaches. Some folks handle pressure better than others. Personally, I think the hiring of Mark Pope was an excellent selection and I look forward to next season--not just for men's basketball but for the women's program (with their new coach) as well!

I love em already

Speaking from ky heart. The sun is rising 😊. Get Benin’s it.

When I first heard the news yesterday evening after doing my research on him I found out who he was I had a good feeling imagine if we would have got someone else and they wouldn't that good a couple years would have had to fire them & not pope might have won a couple championships since then okay what's the price going to be then? everything happens for a reason he came home to win his first championship as a coach oh I can't wait let's go🥳🏆💯

#kyjoe Approves of the Coach Mark Pope Video: He wil Bring a Great Personality to the UKMBB Scene and Plenty of Great Wildcat MBB Wins!!! #KSR #BBN #kyjoe

Come back Reed u will love here,and ky loves u

Every body has an Opinion mine is that this Guy will do good an as far as the University is concerned would been better if Barnhart went with Calipar

Coach Pope era begins ... Lets Go Big Blue #BBN

At the beginning of the search Mark was right at the top of the list right beside Rick Pitino.

Not really a UK fan, and less interested in college bball due to the prevalence of OAD. I do like Pope and the culture change he offers, and I hope he is given time to make it work. Expecting another celebrity like Calipari to leave an established (and scandal-free program) is unreasonable. And nobody has a crystal ball. Most of the "legends" had thin resumes before they created the blue blood programs.

Let’s roll!

As long as you know the X’s and O’s of basketball which he probably does, and combine that with the Kentucky name and have enough NIL money, we won’t lose a beat

Pope needs a great staff and 3 great recruits or transfers and he'll be fine next year. 25 wins. Top 20 team. Go Cats!

We have a new Pope!

I was on board with fire Mitch. And pope wasnt it. But im open lets see what he can do. If he loves Kentucky as much as we do. We'll be great again. Let's go.